My Almost Best Friend

Chapter 19

Chapter 19:

The rest of Tuesday went by way too fast. We went ice skating, (which I failed at), we played laser tag, (which I rocked at), and topped of the day with big ice cream sundaes from Culver's. Yum.

I felt deflated when we finally had to say goodbye. Even though we live a half hour away, the trip to see each other is rarely made.

It was nearly 8:00 when most of them were packed in their big white van.

Caden and Emma lingered at the door, sighing with me.

"Well, it's been real," Caden sighed in a monotone voice. I hugged him as he trudged to the house. But bit without hollering, "Shotgun!" in Emma's direction.

Emma and I stared at the sky. "I wish we didn't have to go," she whimpered.

"I know!" I agreed sadly.

"You need to get your license so you can drive up to Mollalla more often," she pointed.

"Yeah, I'm trying," I moaned. I'd already failed the test twice, and she knew it. I'm not exactly the best driver.

"Emma!" Aunt Marin called, honking her horn. "Lets go! I've 9 sleeping kids in the back and one cranky big one in the front.

"Well, I guess I'll see you when I see you then," I said, hugging her.

"I'll text you!" she called back over her shoulder.

"You'd better!"

That night I went to bed facing the dreaded reality that I actually had to go to school the next day.

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"Bree, I've got terrible news!" Claire cried the next day at lunch.

"And what would that be?" I asked casually. I knew she it wouldn't be that bad since she wasn't using her true sad face.

"I'm going to California tomorrow!"

I tried to refrain myself from calling her a spoiled brat.

"And that's bad because?" I said cooly.

"Because we can't sabotage Summer's role in the play this Friday!"

Oh, right. The whole making Summer miserable thing. Well maybe this way it would be better since I'd be getting out of sneaking into a teachers office.

"Don't worry, I'll think of something," I soothed, attempting to sound sentimental.

"Thank you," she whispered shakily.

Well, she was being awfully dramatic today. I exchanged annoyed looks with Anthony, who sat across from me.

He shrugged helplessly and proceeded to eat his sandwich.

I stabbed my fork into my pasta and ate, determined to avoid anything else on the subject. It was awkwardly quiet.

"You weren't at school yesterday," Anthony pointed out. Finally, a subject easy to talk about.

"The Mechams were visiting."

"Ah," he said. "Thought you were sick or something."

"Nope, but speaking of sick, is Amarys still not at school?" I asked.

Claire, obviously ignoring me, sat snap chatting away.

"She wasn't here yesterday," Anthony said shrugging.

I decided to text her;

'Hey! Still sick?'

-Bree

A few minutes later she texted back;

"Yeah, I have the flu. I can't go to school until next week. My mom's emailing Mrs. Collins to tell her I can't do the play. Its really too bad. :(

-Amarys

Amarys couldn't do the play? She's Alice!

I showed my text to Anthony and Claire.

"This is perfect!" Claire suddenly squealed.

"Why?" I asked.

"Summers going to immediately want the role of Alice, so she'll be furious when the role goes to Alice's understudy. Especially since the understudy is Hilary."

"Yeah but won't Hilary let Summer have the role?"

"Oh, definitely not," Claire said. "Hilary is sick of Summer, and this would give her the perfect excuse to annoy her."

"Oh. How do you know this?"

"Me and Hilary have hung out a bit recently."

I was quiet after that.

"See Bree? You should just let me make all the plans!"

Luckily the lunch bell rang before I could literally attack her.

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"Class I've got some very disappointing news," Mrs. Collins began that day in drama class. "Amarys Green is out with the flu, and will be unable to perform as Alice on Friday."

There were gasps among the class, but Summers hand shot straight up.

"Yes, Summer?" Mrs. Collins asked tiredly.

"Who will be Alice?" she asked urgently.

"Hilary, her understudy."

Hilary beamed in her seat.

Since they sat behind me, I could here Summer clearly hissing to Hilary.

"Tell Mrs. Collins that I should be Alice!" she said through clenched teeth.

"But I'm the understudy!" Hilary protested.

"So? You know how much this role means to me!" Summer said testily.

"Your always the lead! I want a chance!" she complained.

"So you're saying that you won't let me have the role?" she said hotly, her eyebrows arching.

"That's exactly what I'm saying!" she smirked. "And I'm fine with it."

"Well then I hope your fine with not being my friend anymore. Enjoy the loser life you deserve!"

With that she stormed out of the room.

A few claps broke out around Hilary. Apparently the "whispers" had gotten a little louder than intended.

"Yeah Hilary!" Some guy called out.

"Now class settle down, there's a whole lot to be done before Friday!"

Well, looks like Claire's plan had worked out. Summer was furious, humiliated, and had just lost her only "true" friend.